The Opelousas courier., 1887-08-27
CANNIBAL TRIBES.
An Explorers New Discover
les in the Heart Of Africa.
A Region Where O~aunibalism is a Com
mon Habit.

Last fall the Congo State sent Capt.
Van Ge'e, one of SANKEY'S favorite of1-
GERS, in the steamer Henry Reod to make
further explorations upon the Mobangl
River, the great northern ~affiuent OF the
Congo, whose Importance Mr.. Grenfell
was the first to discover. Van Gele did
not ascend the river quite as far rs Gren-
Tell, being prevented by rapids through
which Grcnfell had been able to push
his steamer at low water when the cur
rem was slower. He, however, took time
to explore, while Grenfcll's journey was
nothing moro than a hurried reconnois-
nee. Van Gclc made some very in
tcresting discoveries. He found, for
instance, three little tributaries, up
which he pushed his steamer for o total
distance of GOT miles. 1t is only three
years since Stanley estimated that the
III 'bangi itself added only about $50
miles to the navigable waters of the Congo
basin. Now the problem is, whether
the Mobangi or the Kassai deserves dis
tinction as the Congo's greatest tributary.
On the Nghiri affluent of the river and
also on the M ,bangi, about 900 miles
from its mouth, Van G.ic found the
most densely populated districts he had
seen in Africa. The left bank of
the great river was in uninterrupted
succession of villages for about seventy
miles. Those who Imagine that the
depths of Africa are an almost voiceless
solitude should read Van Gele's brief
account of the animation and hustle he
witnessed all along this populous river.
The scene on the river in the morning,
he says, is one of extraordinary ani-
nation. He often met as many as 800
canoes swiftly ploughing through the
water. The canoes were chiefly filed
with women and children. The women
were leaving the villages to so to the
fields and begin the agricultural labors
of the day. Other parties in the canoes
were setting out for the fish nets, to
gather in the fnny harvest that had col
lecIed since the previous day. The river
swarms with fish, the land yields rich
returns qt-aaH sisFopical produce, and
| thousands and promas along the river do
lay attempt to disiGS. ~
u frowned down by tiRe means. They
n State. .ad rooo,,rcos ,,,on
9 the terms and the world cannot count,
= n is shgTn Eyes are among the greatest
caffn1ba1s.
Quite a number of men accompany the
women to the fields, but not to take part
in tilling the soil. They let the women
monopolize the rude iron hoes, while
the men stand around with weapons in
their hands to~srotfarf the toilers. With
out p~rotectif( acts q = ALWAYS danger that
the is but fair, the surprised and
when both
dragged emery are bee trID1s.
All thethe official bcs send expeditions
against onoed to the for the sole purpose
of procurin, the intfs for their Gambia
fca,ts. "a eo sess & G,lc says that al
the enemiesdi' icy kill in battle are eater,
and that tErtJ same fate soon overtake'
the pr;soseFs they carry home will
them. B2ore the exploration of thu
Congo Wiley the belief was widespread
that cannibalism had greatly decreased
and that, there were comparatively few
peoreontrarAwcrc still add to tn,
holFcc. In all t---.favels, L:v
In nrpa tribe will
Q Gen; ; Mig the Mauycma
But the--gA asAaAi~~Ngongo BASH
has revealed the fact that the worl'
ney-r knew before where cannibalisr
was most prevalent. There are undoubt
eddy hundreds Of thanaAna-~ reoPtr II
mat region among whom c~annibalism i
a confirmed and most cherished habit
Capt. Van Gelc says that noWhere Il
Africa has he seen fisheries of equal ex
tent exceps at Stanley Falls. Th
stakes marking the position of the net
cover many acres. Altthesc tribes al
tall and powerful, and in form they al
splendid specimens ofphysical beauty
New York Sun.
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